Method and system for acquiring at least one measured quantity for the diagnosis or the evaluation of the pathogenesis of a central nervous system disorder of a person

Abstract

In a method and a system for acquiring at least one measured quantity for diagnosis or for evaluation of the pathogenesis of a central nervous system disorder of a person while the person, on a computer, plays a game offered from a central computer via a communication network. At least one measured quantity, related to play of the game, is required for diagnosis or for evaluating the pathogenesis of a central nervous system disorder of the person. The measured quantity can be a game result that can be influenced by the person or an indicator that relates to the play behavior of the person. The measured quantity is stored in a central data bank that is accessible via the network.

We claim as our invention:  
     
         1 . A method for acquiring a measured quantity for diagnosis or evaluation of the pathogenesis of a central nervous system disorder of a patient, comprising the steps of: 
 connecting at least one computer to a central computer via a communication network and offering a game, playable on said computer by a person operating said computer, from said central computer to said computer via said network;    acquiring a measured quantity relating to play of said game by said person at said computer selected from the group consisting of a game result influenced by said person and an indicator of play behavior of said person in playing said game;    transmitting said measured quantity from said computer to said central computer via said network and storing said measured quantity at a central data bank connected to said central computer; and    accessing said measured quantity from said data bank and using said measured quantity to obtain an analysis result selected from the group consisting of a diagnosis of a central nervous system disorder of a patient and an evaluation of the pathogenesis of a central nervous system disorder of a patient.    
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said person is said patient.  
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  comprising the additional steps of: 
 acquiring a further measured quantity, corresponding to the measured quantity acquired from said patient, from a further person playing said game who does not have said central nervous system disorder; and  
 in obtaining said analysis result, using said further measured quantity as a comparison value for comparison with the measured quantity acquired from said patient.  
 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising offering a commercially-available computer game from said central computer as said game.  
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said measured quantity is selected from the group consisting of a best game result of said person, an average time duration between two game inputs by said person, an average number of incorrect attempts required by said person until an objective required in said game is achieved, and a game level achieved by said person.  
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising the additional steps of: 
 acquiring the identity of said person via said computer;  
 transmitting said identity of said person via said network to said central data bank together with said measured quantity from said person; and  
 storing said identity in said central data bank allocated to said measured quantity from said person.  
 
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising the additional steps of: 
 acquiring epidemiological data from said person via said computer, selected from the group consisting of the age of said person, the sex of said person, a state of health of said person and medications being taken by said person;  
 transmitting said epidemiological data from said computer via said network together with said measured quantity acquired from said person; and  
 storing said epidemiological data in said central data bank allocated to said measured quantity acquired from said person.  
 
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said person is said patient and wherein said patient repeatedly plays said game in a plurality of play sessions, including previous sessions and a current session, and wherein said measured quantity is acquired from said patient during each of said plurality of play sessions, thereby generating a plurality of measured quantities which are stored in said central data bank, and wherein the step of obtaining an analysis result comprises automatically statistically analyzing said plurality of measured quantities from said previous sessions to obtain a patient-specific comparison value, and comparing said comparison value to the measured quantity acquired in said current session.  
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said measured quantity is said game result, and comprising the additional steps of: 
 storing a best game result of said patient from among said plurality of play sessions; and  
 making said best game result available to said patient via said network and said computer at a subsequent play session.  
 
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said person is said patient, and comprising the additional steps of: 
 acquiring a plurality of further measured quantities respectively from a plurality of further persons playing said game;  
 from said patient and from said further persons, acquiring respective sets of epidemiological data via said computer, said epidemiological data including, for each of said patient and said further persons, age, sex, state of health and medications being taken;  
 transmitting said sets of epidemiological data together with said plurality of measured quantities to said central data bank and storing the plurality of measured quantities in said central data bank respectively associated with the sets of epidemiological data; and  
 in obtaining said analysis result, forming at least one group from among said further persons comprised of persons having similar epidemiological data, and automatically statistically analyzing the respective measured quantities of the persons comprising said at least one group to obtain a comparison value, and comparing said measured quantity acquired from said patient to said comparison value.  
 
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising connecting a further computer to said central computer via said network and allowing access of said measured quantity and said analysis result from said central data bank via said network.  
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising connecting a plurality of further computers to said central computer via said network and allowing access to said measured quantity and said analysis result by each of said further computers via said network, and further comprising said central computer making a chat format available to said plurality of further computers via said network for a discussion relating to said central nervous system disorder of said patient.  
     
     
         13 . A system for acquiring a measured quantity for diagnosis or evaluation of the pathogenesis of a central nervous system disorder of a patient, comprising: 
 at least one computer and a central computer connected via a communication network, said central computer offering a game, playable on said computer by a person operating said at least one computer, from said central computer to said at least one computer via said network;    said at least one computer acquiring a measured quantity relating to play of said game by said person at said at least one computer selected from the group consisting of a game result influenced by said person and an indicator of play behavior of said person in playing said game;    said at least one computer transmitting said measured quantity from said at least one computer to said central computer via said network;    a central data bank connected to said central computer in which said measured quantity is stored; and    said central computer accessing said measured quantity from said data bank and using said measured quantity to obtain an analysis result selected from the group consisting of a diagnosis of a central nervous system disorder of a patient and an evaluation of the pathogenesis of a central nervous system disorder of a patient.    
     
     
         14 . A system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said person is said patient.  
     
     
         15 . A system as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said at least one computer acquires a further measured quantity, corresponding to the measured quantity acquired from said patient, from a further person playing said game who does not have said central nervous system disorder, and wherein in obtaining said analysis result, said central computer uses said further measured quantity as a comparison value for comparison with the measured quantity acquired from said patient.  
     
     
         16 . A system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said central computer offers a commercially-available computer game as said game.  
     
     
         17 . A system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said measured quantity is selected from the group consisting of a best game result of said person, an average time duration between two game inputs by said person, an average number of incorrect attempts required by said person until an objective required in said game is achieved, and a game level achieved by said person.  
     
     
         18 . A system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said at least one computer acquires the identity of said person and transmits said identity of said person via said network to said central data bank together with said measured quantity from said person, wherein said central data bank stores said identity allocated to said measured quantity from said person.  
     
     
         19 . A system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said at least one computer acquires epidemiological data from said person, selected from the group consisting of the age of said person, the sex of said person, a state of health of said person and medications being taken by said person and transmits said epidemiological data from said computer via said network together with said measured quantity acquired from said person, and wherein said control data bank stores said epidemiological data allocated to said measured quantity acquired from said person.  
     
     
         20 . A system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said person is said patient and wherein said patient repeatedly plays said game in a plurality of play sessions including previous sessions and a current session, and wherein said at least one computer acquires said measured quantity from said patient during each of said plurality of play sessions, thereby generating a plurality of measured quantities which are transmitted to and stored in said central data bank, and wherein said central computer obtains said analysis result by automatically statistically analyzing said plurality of measured quantities from said previous sessions to obtain a patient-specific comparison value and, compares said comparison value to the measured quantity acquired in said current session.  
     
     
         21 . A system as claimed in  claim 20  wherein said measured quantity is said game result, and wherein said central data bank stores a best game result of said patient from among said plurality of play sessions and makes said best game result available to said patient via said network and said computer at a subsequent play session.  
     
     
         22 . A system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said person is said patient, and wherein said at least one computer acquires a plurality of further measured quantities respectively from a plurality of further persons playing said game and from said patient and from said further persons, acquires respective sets of epidemiological data, said epidemiological data including, for each of said patient and said further persons, age, sex, state of health and medications being taken, and wherein said at least one computer transmits said sets of epidemiological data together with said plurality of measured quantities to said central data bank and wherein said central data bank stores the plurality of measured quantities respectively associated with the sets of epidemiological data, and in obtaining said analysis result, forms at least one group from among said further persons comprised of persons having similar epidemiological data, and automatically statistically analyzes the respective measured quantities of the persons comprising said at least one group to obtain a comparison value and compares said comparison value to said measured quantity acquired from the patient.  
     
     
         23 . A system as claimed in  claim 13  comprising a further computer connected to said central computer via said network allowing access of said measured quantity and said analysis result from said central data bank via said network.  
     
     
         24 . A system as claimed in  claim 13  comprising a plurality of further computers connected to said central computer via said network allowing access to said measured quantity and said analysis result via each of said further computers via said network, and wherein said central computer makes a chat format available to said plurality of further computers via said network for a discussion relating to said central nervous system disorder of said patient.